Electromagnetic counting device



y 4 J. l. BELLAMY 2,441,001

ELECTROMAGNETIC COUNTING DEVICE Filed July 2, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I "I" /////////l lNPULSE NAG/VET "0L 0 NAG/VET 2 7L/E'l770fI JUIYZHZBEZZEHZ o o o o o May 4, 1948. J. l. BELLAMY 2,441,001

I I ELBCTROIAGNETIC COUNTING DEVICE FFFFFFF 1y 2, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 w z c o a o a 1 gym. I .271?

qgj kmpuq m m Patented May 4, 1948 ELECTROMAGNETIC COUNTING DEVICE John I. Bellamy, Brookileld, Ill., assignor to Kellogg Switchboard and Supp Company,

nnssuao IARJS 1949 Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 2, 194:, Serial No. 493,312

1 19 Claims.

This invention relates to electromagnetic counting devices. Its object is to provide a simple and reliable electromagnetic device for counting received electrical impulses, and for controllin electrical contacts in accordance with the number of impulses in a counted series.

Gnnaax. Dnscsrrrron Electromagnetic devices for counting received electrical impulses fall generally into two classes-progressively movable and successively movable.

In a counting device of the progressively movable class, a single responding member is progressively moved in response to received impulses, being actuated usually through the well-known pawl and ratchet mechanism. Such devices are considered undesirable for many purposes, because of the inherent inertia of progressively movable stepping mechanisms, and because of their unreliability when not accurately manufac-' tured and frequently serviced.

In a counting device of the successively movable class, members are provided either equal to or doublethe maximum number of impulses to be counted. These members are caused to respond successively to the received impulses of a series. These successively responding members are usually the armatures of a chain of relays comprising what is termed a counting chain, but may be armatures responding successively to successive magnetizations of a common pole structure.

A specific object of this invention is to provide an electromagnetic impulse counting device of the last-named type wherein the required number oi armatures is no greater than the number of impulses counted thereby. This object is attained by providing that any armature other than the first partakes of two movementsa preparatory movement upon the cessation of the impulse serving to operate the preceding armature, and a final or executing movement upon the receipt of the impulse to which it pertains.

A further object is to provide a structure of the concerned type wherein .the necessity for serially related contacts in the work or marking circuits controlled thereby is rendered unnecessary. This object is attained by providing that the second contact of a pair closed by the operation of a given armature is moved out of engagement with the first contact of such pair incidental to the executing movement of the next succeeding armature, whereby any armature after the first opens the contact pair closed by the preceding (01. iii-ass) armature and closes its own contact pair. By

this arrangement, an individual marking or work circuit corresponding to the last operated one of the armatures is closed, and the contact pairs. 5 associated with all preceding and succeeding armatures are in open condition; yet only a single contact pair is provided for any armature.

A feature of this arrangement is that the first or preliminary movement imparted to an armature succeeding the first is accomplished by force imparted thereto through the contact pair closed by the currently responding armature, thereby simplifying the interlocking arrangement.

A further feature is that the improved counting device performs its counting operation responsive solely to the impulses delivered to a single magnet winding. A further specific object is to provide a device of the character under discussion wherein the armatures and cooperating contact blades, or springs, are arranged in stackups (or assemblies) disposed side by side, each such stackup containing an armature and the associated contact blades, and wherein the concerned parts are secured on economically produced mounting strips susceptible of bank assembly, each such strip containing a corresponding part for'each of the stackups of the device.

Other objects and features of the invention 0 will become more apparent as the description progresses.

The drawings The accompanying drawings, comprising Figs. 85 1 to 26, show a first embodiment of the invention in Figs. 1 to 20 and a second embodiment of the invention in Figs. 21 to 26:

Fig. 1 shows a front view of the first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view with the bank assembly and part 24 removed;

Fig. 3 is a front sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 4 is a front sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. "I;

Fig. 5 is a top view; Fig. 6 is a left-side view of a portion of the device;

Fig. '1 is a side sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a side sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a circuit drawing showing the first embodiment of the device used in a signalling system;

Figs. to 19 show plan views of the respective parts entering into the bank assembly including armatures and contact blades Figs. 10A to 19A show end views, taken from the right, of the parts shown in Figs. 10 to 19;

Fig. 143 shows an end view, taken from the left, of the part shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 20 is a plan view of the rear portion of the structure upon which the parts shown in Figs. 10 to 19 are to be assembled;

Fig. 21 is a front view of the second embodi ment of the invention;

Fig. 22 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 23 is a left-side view of a portion of the second embodiment;

Fig. 24 is a side sectional view taken along the line 24-24 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 25 is a side sectional view taken along the line 25-25 of Fig. 22; and I Fig. 26 is a circuit drawing showing the second embodiment of the deviceused in a signalling system.

Da'rmsn DrscarrrroN First embodiment In the first embodiment (Figs. 1 to 20 the improved electromagnetic counting device includes a pair Of electromagnets i3 and I1, seen best in front view in Fig. 4. These magnets are secured at the rear to the U-shaped frame member I2 by screws I 4 and I8 (Figs. '7 and 20) Frame member l2 has an upper forwardly extending horizontal portion on which the bank structure including contact springs and armatures is mounted. Member I! has a longer lower horizontal portion, extending underneath the magnets to serve as a mounting plate or bracing structure for the pole pieces i6 and 20, as well as serving as a magnetic shield between the disclosed device and a. similar device mounted directly below it.

Magnet I3 is termed the impulse magnet in that the successive impulses of a series to be counted are delivered to it, while magnet I1 is termed the hold magnet in that it is energized continuously during the counting operation and for as long a time thereafter as the indication of the number of impulses counted is to be retained.

As seen best in Fig. 4, a pole piece It is secured to the front end of impulse magnet II by screw l5, and a pole piece 20 is secured to the front end of hold magnet H by screw l9. These two pole pieces are referred to herein as the impulse bar and as the hold bar respectively. It is to be noted that the impulse bar is of oblong configuration as seen in Fig. 4, but has the lower lefthand portion removed to maintain it spaced well away from the associated portion of impulse bar ii, for magnetic isolation.

The non-magnetic bracket 2| (seen in front view at Fig. 3) serves to maintain the impulse and hold bars I and 20 in fixed relation to each other independent of the screws l5 and I9. Bracket 2| is secured to bars l8 and 20 by rivets 22. It is notched to provide clearance for the heads of screws l5 and I9, and it is provided with feet through which it is secured to the lower horizontal portion of frame member I! by screws 23, thus rigidifying the structure.

As is shown in profile in Fig. 7, the impulse bar (or pole piece) It, besides the rear portion attached to magnet 13 behind bracket 2|, comprises the horizontal portion shown in cross-section in Figs. 3 and 4 and the main portion shown the impulse bar It is provided with openings seen in Fig. 2 to give access to the screws II and II.

As is seen in Figs. 1, 5, 7, and 8, the impulse bar It is provided with an impulse yoke 24 attached thereto by screws 25. This yoke delivers the magnetic impulses to the armatures contained in the stackups SI to Bill (Figs. 1 and 5). Yoke 24 is notched at the upper portion to provide ten fingers, one for each of the stackups SI to Sill. The open spaces between these fingers permti ready inspection of the parts lying to the rear thereof and permit the ready insertion of an adjusting tool. A pair of positioning lugs 2', on yoke 24,- extend rearwardly to engage the upper face of impulse bar It (Figs. 1 and 7). These lugs are preferably held firmly in contact with the impulse bar It as screws 25 are being tightened, thereby definitely locating the yoke 24 with respect to the upper face of hold bar 24.

As seen best in Figs. '7 and 8, the upper portion of impulse yoke 24 is bent rearwardly, upwardly. and again rearwardly, to provide two offset horizontal pole faces 35 and 38 for each of the ten finger portions of the yoke. It is through these pole faces that the impulses to be counted are delivered to the armatures and cooperating structure pursuant to the counting operation.

Each of the counting assemblies, or stackups, Si to SID, mounted in a bank assembly above and to the rear of the magnet structure, comprises a pair of contact blades, or springs, 42 and 54, an armature 58, and a stop-supporting blade or spring 65, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The explanation of the bank construction and assembly is given hereinafter in connection with Figs. 10 to 19. It may be noted here that the contact springs 43 and 54 of any stackup are maintained insulated from each other and that the contact springs 540i stackups SI to Bill are in common connection'with each other and with terminal 55 (Figs. 5 and 14). I

Preferably, all portions of any of the stackups S! to Sill are non-magnetic except for armature 56 and stop 68 of such stackup. The armatures 5B are spring-suspended at the rear in close proximity to base strip 5|, providing a magnetic rein full front view in Fig. 2. The front portion of turn path for any armature 58, through base strip ii, and thence to frame member l2, across the air gap represented by the thickness of the thin strip material from which stop-support blades are formed.

In the operation of the device, given more fully hereinafter, when impulse magnet I2 is energized and impulse bar it is thereby magnetized, the magnetic flux passes through impulse yoke 24 and reaches pole faces 25 and 38 for each stackup. One portion of the flux passes thence to each armature 58 from its pole face 35 and another portion reaches such armature from its pole face 38, by way of the concerned magnetic stop 88. Flux passing through the first-named path creates an upward pull On the armature. tending to maintain it in its normal position, while fiux passingthrough the latter path creates a downward pull, tending to bring the armature down against stop 68.

As shown in Fig. 8 for stackup S2, all of the armatures in stackups S2 to SID are normally closer to the upper pole face 35 than they are to the pole face 36 as extended inwardly by the concerned magnetic stop 86. But, the forward end of bracket 51 on armature 56 in stackup SI (Fig. '7) is bent upwardly sufilciently to maintain armature 58 of the first stackup SI in a normally advanced position, nearer the stop 86 than to the pole face ll, whereby the mature oi the iirststackuprespcndstothefirstimpulseby moving downwardly until it causes the associated stop 88. By this arrangement, only the first armature responds to the first impulse. It will be explained hereinafter how the initial downe ward movement of the first armature in response to the first impulse is followed by a final movement of such armature upon the cessation of the first impulse, and how this final movement of the first armature moves the second armature to an advanced position corresponding to the normal advanced position of the first armature, to condition the second armature to respond to the second impulse.

Armature 88 of the first stackup has a bracket 81 attached to the upper portion thereof, as by spotwelding. Bracket II has a part which extends sidewardly and upwardly as seen in Fig. 1, and which then divides into an arm 88 extending to the left to overlie the off-normal stackuD N, and an arm I extending to the right to overlie the contact springs of stackup Si. Insulating bushing 88, aifixed to the underside of arm 88, maintains arm 88 out of engagement with the adjacent off-normal spring 30, while a similar insulating bushing 82 attached to the underside of arm 8| maintains arm 8| out of engagement with the upper contact spring 43 of stackup SI Each of the brackets 88, attached to the armatures 88 in stackups S2 to Sll, carries a left arm 68 branching of! from a lower level than the left arm 88 of bracket 81. Each of the arms 88 carries an insulating bushing 84, which underlies and supports the contact spring 84 of the preceding stackup.

In Figs. 1, 7, and 8, it will be observed that the upper face of the hold bar 18 underlies the armatures 88 to the rear of the stops 68 so as to tend to attract the armatures downwardly when the hold bar is magnetized by an energization of the hold magnet H. In the intended operation of the device, the magnetization of bar 20 is sufficient to attract an armature 88 downwardly from stop position to final position between impulses, but is insumcient to operatively attract an armature downwardly from either its initial position or its advanced position.

In Fig. 9, which illustrates a simple signalling system including the first embodiment of the counting device, the circuit elements of the counting device are shown within the broken-line rectangle. These circuit elements include the singlewound impulse magnet II. the double-wound hold m net i1. contacts 88 and I! of the off-normal stackup ON, and the contacts 48 and 84 of each of the counting stackups SI to Bll. Associated with the counting device thus illustrated are three control relays comprising a line relay 8], a release relay 84, and a series relay ll. Each of the relays 84 and I8 is slow-restoring as is indicated by the conventional representation of a conducting sleeve surrounding the core of the relay beneath its winding. The line over which line relay 88 is controlled is illustrated as containing a normally open key 82, and a telephone-type calling device whose interrupter contact are illustrated diagrammatically at U. Such a calling device is arranged to transmit any desired series of interruption impulses from 1 to 10, as is well known.

a buzzer 88 is showninterconnectedwith the off-normal contacts, and signal lamps 81 are shown interconnected with the counting contacts.

6 Operation when 'a signal is to be transmitted over the line illustrated in Fig. 9, key 82 is first closed,

thereby operating line relay 88, which in turn operates the slow-restoring release relay 8|. Release relay 84 prepares the impulse circuit at its left contacts, while at its right contacts it enerslzes one winding of magnet Il. This ener ization of hold magnet I1 is sufilcient to maintain all armatures 86 in fully operated position.

When the dial (not shown) which controls contacts II is rotated forwardly to the desired position and then released, it causes contacts 8| to be interrupted on the return movement thereof a number of times depending upon the digit value in accordance with which such dial was operated. The interruptions thereby produced are each of only momentary length and they are separated by only a momentary interval, as is well understood. Line relay 88 is thereby restored momentarily a corresponding number of times. Being slow-restoring, release relay 84 remains operated.

Each time it restores, line relay 88 transmits an impulse to the winding of series relay 85 and an impulse to the winding of impulse magnet l3. Impulse magnet I3 is thus momentarily energized once for each interruption of the circuit at contacts 8|. Series relay 85 responds to the first impulse. Being slow-restoring, it remains operated throughout the series of impulses and then restores a. moment later.

Upon operating, series relay 88 disconnects of!- normal contacts 32 and counting contacts 84 from the front contact of the upper armature of release relay 84 to avoid a preliminary sounding of the buzzer 88 and to avoid momentary flashing of the lamps 81 passed over by the counting operation.

Relay 8! also closes a circuit for the other winding of magnet l1, through the front contact of the right-hand armature of relay 84, thereby increasing the energization of hold magnet ll sufiiciently to enable it to bring about the final movement of any of the armatures 86 which are moved from advanced position to stop position respoansive to an energization of impulse magnet I Returning now to the structural ones of the drawings, Figs. 1 to 20, no immediate effect is produced by the preliminary energization of the first winding of hold magnet l1 incidental to the operation of release relay 84, nor is any immediate effect produced incidental to the increased energization of hold magnet l1 incidental to the operation of series relay 85.

First impulse received The separation at that time between the arma-' ture 56 and stop 88 is the thickness'of the thin material of which'spring 68 is composed, This spring is stiffened throughout the major portion of its length by having the side portions upturned (Figs. 1, 5, 7, and 19). Armature 88 passes freely between these upturned sides. None of the armatures I of the remaining stackups is operated at this time because each is nearer its associated pole face I! than it is to its associated stop It, and is therefore urged upwardly to remain in normal position.

By being thus moved downwardly from advanced position into sto position, armature I! of stackup SI is brought within the eifective field of influence of the upper face of the now strongly energized hold bar 20. but no further downward movement of the armature occurs for the time being, for the concerned stop 68 is held in its illustrated normal position by the flux interlinkage between the forward portion of its upper face and the pole face It with which it is in contact.

Responsive to the movement of armature ll of stackup SI into stop position, the attached arm ll moves off-normal contact spring ll downward- 1y Just sufficiently to make contact'with contact spring 82. At the same time. the attached arm ll moves contact spring 48 of stackup 8! downwardly just sufficiently to make contact with contact spring ll of such stackup.

First impulse terminated When the first impulse is terminated, and impulse bar I. and impulse yoke 24 are consequently demagnetized, the flux interlinkage in stackup SI between pole face 38 and stop 88 ceases, freeing the stop, Since the armature 56 of stackup SI is in stop position, within the eflective field of hold bar 20, such armature I8 is immediately attracted downwardly (carrying stop 68 before it) until the lower face of the associated stop-support spring I! is brought into engagement with the upper face of hold bar 20. Such armature II is then in its final position, one impulse having been received and counted.

Bracket 81 partakes of the final movement of armature 55 of stackup SI. Its arms 58 presses contact spring 30 more firmly into engagement with contact spring 32 of the off-normal stackup, contact spring 32 yielding to permit the downward movement. Contact spring 32 may be made of any desired thickness according to the contact pressure desired between the contact portions of springs and 32.

Arm ll of bracket 51, acting through its insulating bushing 62, bends spring 43 in stackup SI downwardly by anamount equal to the executin movement of the associated armature 58, thereby pressing the concerned contact springs I and 84 more firmly into engagement. these contact springs already in engagement at the beginning of the executing movement, contact spring 54 is moved downwardly a distance.

equal to the final movement of the associated armature, whereby the desired contact pressure between the contacts of the concerned springs 48 and M is applied. At this point, it should be noted that the lower contact springs 84 of the stackups SI to SID are preferably composed of comparatively thin sheet material, which requires but little flexing pressure. Moreover, the contact springs 54 are preferably tensioned downwardly slightly, each against the upper face of its underlying bushing 64. Such contact springs accordingly rest lightly on the respective bushings 64, and do not of themselves resist downward movement. The resistance to the downward movement necessary to build up the desired contact pressure between the contacts of a pair of springs 43 and it is secured by the normal upward tension of the contact springs 40. of stackups S2 to Sll. Each such contact spring is so tensioned that it normally urges its overlyin bushing I! upwardly by an amount about equal to the desired contact pressure.

Astheapringllinstackupsi isforced dowr.- wardly by spring 18, during the final movemen. of the associated armature II, the concerned spring N, through the underlying insulating bushing ll. forces downwardly the arm I! attached to bracket II carried by the armature ll in stackup 82, thereby forcing downwardly such bracket II and attached armature a distance equal to the final movement of the armature in the first stackup. Arm II in stackup 82, through its underlying insulating bushing It, moves the associated upper contact spring 48 downwardly against the trapped upward pressure of the latter,butnotaniiiicientdhtancetoengageitaasaociatedlowercontactspringll. Armatursilin stackup SI partakes of the downward movement of the attached bracket ll, whereby it is moved to its advance position, below the midpoint between the asaociated lower face 8| and the upper face of its stop It. It then occupies an advanced position between these two pole faces substantially as illustrated in Fig. 7 as the normal advanced position of the armature II in stackup Bl.

Second impulse received If the impulse series being counted contains a second impulse, upon the receipt of such second impulse by magnet II and the consequent energization of impulse bar II and attached yoke ll, armature I. of stackup 82, being in its abovedescribed advanced position below the magnetic center line, is attracted downwardly into its stop position, in engagement with its associated stop 88. Bracket ll, attached to the armature of stackup BI, is moved downwardly a like distance,

thereby carryina downwardly its arms H and II. Such arm 83 carries downwardly its overlying insulating bushing 84, thereby removing the support from the lower contact spring I of stackup SI. Since such contact spring M is lightly tensioned downwardly, it immediately moves out of contact with the associated upper contact spring 43 in stackup SI by an amount equal to the intermediate movement of the armature in stackup S2. This breaking of the contact in stackup SI occurs at the beginning of the intermediate movement in stackup 82.

Arm ll of bracket 88 associated with stackup S2, upon partaking of the intermediate movement of the associated armature, moves the associated upper contact spring 48 downwardly just suillciently to come into contact with the associated contact spring 84 in stackup 82, which contact is made at the termination of the concerned intermediate movement, whereas the contact between the springs 43 and ll of stackup SI is broken as above described at the beginning of such movement. There is, therefore, no overlap period during which two adjacent contact pairs are closed. Accordingly, the device may be used in a situation where a number of them operate to control successively a common group of conductors, and the one being operated will then not interfere with a control being effected by another similar device. One example of an arrangement requiring this feature of non-interference between similar counting devices is found in Patent No. 1,683,857, issued September 16, 1928, to Bellamy and Gardner (see (Figs. 3 and 5).

sponsive to the cessation of such impulse.

9 Second impulse terminated Uponthe termination of the second impulse, the armature ii of stackup 82, having been advanced to stop position, within the effective held of influence of the upper face of hold bar 20, is

moved downwardly into contact with the hold bar except for the separation between the armature and the-hold bar representing the thickness of the sheet material of which the associated stop-support spring is constructed. The associated stop It is thereby. carried downwardly out of engagement with the associated face it of yoke 14, introducing a substantial break in the ma netic circuit through 'the stop and the impulse yoke.

As an incident to the final movement of the armature of stackup 82, the upper contact spring 48 of stackup 82 is given its final downward movement. Since the springs 43 and 84 of this stackup are in contact. the lower contact spring of such stackup partakes of the final movement and imparts it to arm II of stackup 88, whereby the concerned bracket 60 moves the armature of stackup 88 into its advanced position, as previously described for the armature of stackup S2.

Succeeding impulses If the impulse series under consideration contains succeeding impulses. the armatures of the concerned succeeding stackups S3 to Sit respond thereto as described hereinbefore for stackup 82. That is, each such armature executes its advance movement responsive to the final movement of the preceding armature, upon the termination of the impulse pertaining to such preceding armature; executes its intermediate movement responsive to the receipt of the impulse pertaining thereto; and executes its final movement re- The contact pair directly associated with any such armature is not closed responsive to the advance movement of such armature; is preferably barely closed responsive to the completion of the intermediate movement of such armature; is more firmly closed, to build up the desired contact pressure, responsive to the final movement of such armature; and is again opened responsive to the beginning of the intermediate movement of the next succeeding armature, if a further impulse is received.

When line relay ill (Fig. 9) comes to rest at the end of the series of impulses, it again closes the circuit of release relay 84 steadily, and maintains open the circuit of impulse magnet is and ries r y l5. Relay l5 restores a moment later. Upon so doing, it open-circuits the second winding of hold magnet il, thereby reducing the current drain of this magnet to an economical value, leaving the magnet energized by its first winding sufficiently to maintain any fully operated counting armatures in fully operated condition.

At its back contact, relay 85 extends ground potential to contact spring 32 in the oil-normal stackup, thereby sounding buzzer 86 as a call signal. At the same time, ground potential is extended to contact springs 32 in stackups SI to sit], thereby closing a circuit through one or another of the contact pairs 43, 54 to light the lamp Ill corresponding to the number of impulses received and counted.

When the transmitted signal is to be extinguished, key 82 is restored to normal position, whereupon line relay 8! restores, followed a moment later by the restoration of release relay 34. series relay 34 operates incidentally at this time. and a further impulse is incidentally transmitted to magnet I I. in the interval required for release relay N to restore.

' Bank construction Referring now particularly to Figs. 10 to 20, and to the auxiliary views associated with Figs. 10 to 19, the construction permitting the parts comprising stackups SI to BIO of the device to be assembled. into a compact, economically produced bank will be described. This bank assembly is held in position by threaded bolts 40 (Figs. 5, '7, and 8) which pass through the five aligned openings in the parts illustrated in Figs. 10 to 20. The preferred arrangement is that the parts illustrated in Figs. 10 to 18 are preassembled in bank form and securely held together by three bolts 40 downwardly through the outside and center bolt openings in the parts illustrated in Figs. 10 to 17 and threaded into outside and center openings in the base member 52 (Fig. 18), following which the preassembled bank is placed on the upper arm of frame member I2; with the lower ends of the three assembled bolts passing freely into the outside and middle bolt openings in the frame member; and with the assembly shown in Fig. 19 located between the preassembled bank and the frame member. Following this, the two remaining bolts 40 may be passed down through the intermediate bolt openings (second and fourth), and threaded into the correspondingly tapped openings in the upper arm of frame member I! to securely hold all parts of the bank assembly in the desired assembled position illustrated in Figs. 1, 5, '7, and 8.

Top plate 4| (Fig. 10) is engaged by the heads of the bolts 40 in assembled position to receive the thrust of the tightened bolts. Insulation strip 42 (Fig. 11) has directly beneath top plate 4| to insulate from this plate the individual upper contact springs included in the assembly shown in Fig. 12, which assembly lies below insulating strip 42 in the assembly bank.

The assembly shown in Figs. 12 and 12A includes a strip of insulating material with the illustrated five bolt openings therethrough, through which the strip is maintained in its desired aligned position in the assembled tank.

"Each of the contact springs 43 is attached in fixed position to the upper side of the insulating strip 44, as by tabs I2 formed by punching them out of the spring material, leaving openings therein indicated at H. The lateral position of the springs on the strip is conveniently maintained by having the retaining tabs lie in opposed notches in the edge of the strip 44, one such notch being shown at I3. Each of the springs 43 has opposed arcuate notches between its openings ll, leaving substantial clearance between the spring and the assembly bolts, to avoid accidental contact and arcing from spring to bolt.

11 Spacing member ll (Fig. 13) lies between the assembly shown in Fig. 12 and the assembly shown in Fig. 14. Strip 4! may be of metal, but is preferably of insulation, as indicated, to avoid danger contact between it and the pair of fastening tabs 15 of assembly ll if such a tab should be incorrectly formed. These tabs are received in openings 14 ,in strip 48.

The assembly shown in Fig. 14 includes the comb structure wherein the ten lower contact springs 54 of the stackups SI to sit are the teeth portions, and the interconnecting back portion is 41. The bolt openings through the back portion 41 oi the comb structure are substantially larger than the diameter of mounting bolts 40, whereby the comb structure is maintained out of electrical contact with such bolts. The upper portion of this assembly is the insulating strip 48, which is notched at the ends, and is secured to the comb structure by a pair of overlying tabs 15, formed integrally with portion 41 of thecomb structure. Strip 48 had bolt-size openings, smaller than those of parts 41 and I, and concentric therewith, whereby the assembly is accurately positioned in the bank.

Transverse terminal strip 55 (Figs. 5, 14, and 14A) is attached underneath the back portion 41 of the comb structure, as by spotwelding; it provides a convenient attaching point for a conductor common to all of the lower contact springs I4. A forwardly extending portion of the terminal strip 55 underlies the contact spring ll of stackup SID oi the device, thereby giving this contact spring added stifl'ness to enable sufficient contact pressure to be built up between this spring and its cooperating contact spring when the tenth impulse 01' a series is received and counted. This stiffening arrangement is neither required nor desired for the preceding contact springs ll, because of the previously described arrangement whereby the normal restoring tension of the upper contact spring 43 in the next succeeding stackup is there employed to secure the desired contact pressure. The forward spring portion of member 55 may be secured to the overlying contact spring 54, as by spotwelding at points 18.

The assembly shown in Fig. 14 further includes the spacing strip 48, of the same thickness as terminal strip 55. Spacer strip ll may be attached to the portion 41 as by spotwelding: it has enlarged bolt openings corresponding to those in part 41, and for the same reason.

The insulating strip 49 (Fig. 15) underlies the assembly shown in Fig. 14, and the spacing strip ill (Fig. 16) lies underneath strip 49.

The next lower portion of the bank assembly is shown in Fig. 17. It comprises the ten armatures 56, each of which is attached to a forwardly extending blade portion of the spring member as by spotwelding at points 11. It is to be noted that each of the armatures 86 is considerably wider at the rear portion. This widened arrangement serves to reduce any tendency of an armature to rotate about its longitudinal axis incidentel to its described movements, and it also increases the cross-sectional area of the magnetic air gap seen readily in Figs. 7 and 8 between the rear end of the armature and the front face of the base strip 52.

The assembly of Fig. 17 includes also the bracket I" attached to the first of the armatures 58 and the brackets 60 attached to the remaining armatures 56. These brackets may be attached as by spotweld g at points it. These brackets ha e 12 the previously mentioned insulators ll, 02, and II attached to the arms thereof.

The base member 52 (Fig. 18), which underlies the parts illustrated in Figs. 10 to 18, has a pair oi small tapped openings 10 at the left end thereof, in addition to the live bolt openings II. The openings II are used to attach the 0!!- normal assembly ON in the manner customary for the mounting of individual stackups of contacts on telephone relays.

It is to be noted that the outside and center ones of the bolt openings are each tapped to threadedly receive the threaded portion of a bolt 40, while the intermediate ones of the bolt openings 80 are each enlarged to freely receive the end of a bolt ll. By this arrangement, flve similar mounting bolts 40 of the same length may be used; yet only three of them threadedly engage base strip 52, and the second and fourth threadedly engage only the corresponding openings in frame member II.

The assembly shown in Fig. 19 includes the ten stop-support springs 65, which are formed integrally with the rear portion 53. For stifl'ening purposes, the edges of the forward portions of support springs are turned upwardly as shown in Figs. 1, 19, and 19A. The stop members it are attached underneath the forward ends of the support springs 85, as by spotwelding at points 8 I.

In Fig. 20, the five openings in frame I! for mounting bolts 40 are shown. The second and fourth are tapped for threaded engagement, while the first, third, and ilfth are enlarged to the bolt diameter. The five bolts lll cooperate with these openings to determine the horizontal location of the assembled bank structure on the frame II.

In Fig. 20, terminals II and 88 of magnets I3 and I! may be seen, as well as the rear mounting screws H and I 8 of these magnets.

Second embodiment Referring now particularly to Figs. 21 to 26, the second embodiment of the improved counting device will be described.

In general operating principle and structure, the second embodiment of the counting device is similar to the first. That is, an armature is caused to execute a plurality of movements successively, the final one of which causes the next succeeding armature to execute the first of its movements between impulses by virtue of a mechanical interconnection between adJacent armatures. The principal difference is that the inflexible mechanical interconnection between ad- Jacent armatures in the first embodiment is replaced by a resilient interconnection in the second embodiment, whereby an armature, upon responding to its pertaining impulse, is permitted to apply force to such resilient interconnection which force is stored therein until the instant impulse is terminated, whereupon the stored force causes the next succeeding armature to move from normal position, above the magnetic center line, to advanced position, below the magnetic center line. This arrangement requires only two movements of an armature, (1) an advance movement at the termination of the preceding impulse and (2) a final movement upon the receipt of the pertaining impulse. Moreover, the modified arrangement renders the movable stops it of the first embodiment unnecessary, and renders feasible the employment of a single electromagnet I02 and the employment of a single impulse bar I I8 and attached yoke Ill through 13 which both the holding flux and the impulse flux are applied.

In the drawings of the modified embodiment,

Figs. 21 to 25, I! is the frame member: I02 is the single electromagnet; I03 are the winding terminals of such magnet; I04 is the rear mounting screw of the magnet; I0! is the rear or holding winding; I08 is the front or impulse winding; and I0! is a center-pole member which flts closely around the magnetic core of the electromagnet intermediate the windings I08 and I08 and terminates comparatively close to the lower arm of frame member I0 I thereby placing a considerable magnetic shunt around the portion of the magnet core encircled by the holding winding I05, for a. purpose to be discussed.

The magnetic air gap between the adjacent faces of frame MI and center-pole member I01 is maintained constant by the non-magnetic spacing strip I09, through which pass non-masnetic screws I08, holding parts I01, I 08, and IM together. The rectangular front pole piece I I8 is secured to magnet I02 by screw II8 (Fig. 21). Pole piece H8 is maintained accurately spaced with respect to frame IN by non-magnetic feet I I0 attached to H8 by rivets H2, and to the frame IN by screws III.

Magnetic yoke H4 is removably attached to front pole piece II8 by screws II3. Yoke H4 is notched to provide inspection and adjustment access to the movable members, leaving ten control extensions II5, one for each of the stackups SI to SIO'.

Each of the extensions H8 is formed to provide an upper pole portion H8 and a lower pole portion Ill, through which portions movement of the associated armature I3I is controlled.

As seen in Figs. 24 and 25, the members of the bank construction held in place by bolts I20 (Fig. 22) include the top plate I2I, the common interconnecting (comb-back) member I22 for the armature springs I32: insulator strip I23; insulator strip I24 on which the upper contact springs I33 are separately secured substantially as shown in Fig. 12 for springs 43; spacer strip I28; lowerspring insulator strip I28; comb portion I21 with which the lower contact springs I34 are integral- 1y formed substantially as shown in Fig. 14 for the springs 54; spacer I28 corresponding to part 48 (Fig. 14); lower insulating strip I28; and base member I30. The five bolts I20 afford a magnetic interconnection between top plate HI and frame member IIII, affording a magnetic return path from the rear portions of armatures Ill and frame member I0 I.

As shown in Fig. 24 for the stackup SI, and in Fig. 25 for the stackup $2, each stackup includes an armature I3I, spring-supported at the rear by being spotwelded to its underlying armature spring I 22, an armature spring I32 which has a forwardly extending portion underlying the armature, an upper bushing I39 depending from spring I32; an upper contact spring I33; and a lower contact spring I34. As seen best in Figs. 21 and 22, each stackup SI to SIIi also includes an arm interconnecting the upper portion thereof with the immediately preceding stackup. This arm is shown at I35 for stackup SI and at I31 for each of the succeeding stackups. One end of such arm overlies the front end of the associated armature spring I32 and may be aillxed thereto as by spotwelding at points I44 (Fig. 22). As shown in Fig. 22 in connection with stackup S, an opening may be provided in the concerned end of each arm I38 or I31 to receive the reduced portion by which the upper end of bushing I38 is attached to the associated armature spring I32.

The left end of arm l35 carries a depending bushing I38 by which contact spring I42 of oilnormal stackup ON is brought into engagement with the associated contact spring I43 when the armature I3I of stackup SI reponds to the first impulse. The left end of each of the arms I31 for stackups S2 to SIO' is oilset downwardly to underlie the lower contact spring I34 of the preceding stackup, being separated from such contact spring by a bushing I38.

Armature I3I of stackup SI has a spacin member I40 attached thereto with a comparatively long forward end turned up (Fig. 24) against the lower face, of the associated upper pole portion II8 whereby such armature I3I is normally maintained below the magnetic center line of pole portions H6 and Ill, closer to portion I I1 than to portion IIB. Each of the armatures instackups S2 to SID has a spacing member I4I with a comparatively short upturned end, whereby each such armature is maintained a substantial distance above the magnetic center line, closer to its associated pole portion II8 than to its lower pole portion III. Each of the spacing members I40 and I may be secured to its respective armature as by being spotwelded at points I45 (Fig. 22)

In Fig. 26, showing the modified construction used in a simple signalling system similar to that shown in Fig. 9, the parts 8i to 8'! correspond respectively to the parts iii to 81 of Fig. 9.

Operation When a signal is to be transmitted over the line illustrated in Fig. 26, line and release re lays 83' and 84' respond successively to the closing of the contacts of key 82'. At its left contact, release relay 84' prepares a circuit for series relay and for winding I08 of electromagnet I02 of the countin device. At its righthand contacts, it closes a circuit for the hold winding I05 of electromagnet I02.

When impulse contacts 8| are caused to interrupt the line circuit the desired number of times, line relay 83 momentarily restores a corresponding number of times. Slow-restoring release relay 84 remains operated during impulse transmission. Upon each restoration of line relay 83, a circuit is closed through the left-hand contacts of release relay 84' for the winding of series relay 85', and a parallel circuit for impulse winding I08 of electromagnet I02. Series relay 85' operates responsive to the first impulse and remains operated until an interval after the termination of the final impulse of the series. Upon operating, relay 85' disconnects one contact in each of the stackups ON and SI to S I 0.

Referring again to Figs. 21 to 25, responsive to the described energization of hold winding I05 of electromagnet I02 (Fig. 25), a considerable magnetic flux is set up in the portion of the core encircled by this winding, but no action of armatures I3I of stackups SI to SIO' occurs responsive to this energization because a major portion of the magnetic flux generated by winding I05 is shunted to the frame. member IOI across the magnetic air gap represented by the non-magnetic spacing strip I09. The resulting flux reaching pole member H8 and attached yoke II4, while insufficient to cause actuation of any of the armatures I3I, is sufiicient to maintain in operated position any armature m operated as a result of impulses transmitted to winding I08.

First impulse received Responsive to the delivery of the first impulse to winding I06 of electromagnet I02, the fiux passing to and through parts H8 and H4 is increased sumciently that the extensions H5 are each magnetized to the operating value of the armatures III. At this time, the armature in each or the stackups S2 to SIO is above the magnetic center line and therefore remains in norinal position, being attracted upwardly against its spacing member MI by the associated pole portion H0. The armature I3I in the stackup SI, however, being normally maintained below the magnetic center line by spacing member I40, is immediately attracted downwardl into engagement with the associated pole portion H1. The associated armature spring I32 and attached parts I35 and I39 are thereby carried downwardly. Arm I35 (Figs. 21 to 24) through its underlying bushing I36, closes oil-normal spring I42 against off-normal spring I43. The bushing I39 underlying and attached to the forward end of armature spring I33 closes upper contact spring I33 of stackup SI with lower contact spring I34, and then imparts movement, through the closed contact springs and associated bushing I38, to the left end or ofiset arm I31 (Fig. 21), attached to front end of armature spring I32 01 stackup S2. The forward end of such armature spring I32 is therefore carried downwardly a. distance equal to the major portion of the downward travel of the armature of the first stackup.

Each of the armature springs I32 of the sec ond to tenth stackups is preferably tensloned slightly against its associated armature to give a trapped pressure for bringing such armature downwardly to advance position responsive to the above described downward movement of the attached arm I31. The armature of stackup S2, however, does not move downwardly for the time being, as it is being attracted upwardly by the associated pole portion II6, as pointed out. Spring I32 01 such stackup therefore yields; its forward end moves downwardly away from the associated armature. During this movement,

' bushing I 38 of stackup S2 carries the associated upper contact spring I32 close to, but not into engagement with, the contact portion of the associated lower contact spring I34.

First impulse terminated When the first impulse delivered to winding I06 as explained in connection with Fig. 26 is terminated, the resulting deenergization of this winding permits the magnetic flux in portions H8 and .4 to drop to the normal holding value determined by the thickness or air-gap piece I09 and the magnetization of hold winding I05. The holding value of the flux is sufiicient to maintain any armature in fully operated position, as previously noted, whereby armature I3I of stackup SI remains in operated position notwithstanding the termination of the operating impulse.

When the flux drops to holding value, armature I32 in stackup S2 (because of the substantial air gap maintained by its spacing member I 4|, Fig. 25) is no longer attracted to the associated upper pole portion I IS with sufficient force to overcome the tension of its downwardly flexed armature spring I32. As a result, the said armature oi stackup S2 immediately moves'downwardly through the distance-by which the iorward end of the associated armature spring I32 was moved downwardly by its attached bracket I31, at which point the downward motion oi such armature I32 ceases; The armature of stackup S2 now occupies substantially the same relative position between its associated pole portions III and H1 as is shown in Fig. 24 as the normal position for armature I32 of stackup SI.

As explained in connection with the similar parts of the first embodiment, the upper contact spring I33 01 each stackup S2 to SIO' is tensioned upwardly sufi'iciently to maintain the desired contact pressure between the forward end of armature springs I33 and I34 of the preceding stackup, acting through the concerned oilset arm I31.

As a result of the receipt oi the first impulse the contact pairs of stackups ON and SI have been closed, and the armature of the second stackup S2 has been moved to advanced position responsive to the termination of such impulse.

Second impulse received If the impulse series being counted contains a second impulse, upon the receipt of such second impulse by winding I00, parts III! and I are again strongly magnetized, whereupon the armature of stackup S2 moves downwardly from its above-described advanced position into engagement with the upper face of the associated pole portion II1. When this occurs, the resulting downward movement of the attached arm I31 permits the downwardly tensioned lower spring I34 of stackup SI to move downwardly out of contact with the associated upper contact spring I33, thereby opening the contact pair in the first stackup at the beginning of the final movement of the armature in stackup S2. The final movement of the armature in stackup S2 also brings the forward end of the contact springs I33 and I34 in such st-ackup into engagement, and then, through the arm I" secured in the third stackup, causes a downward flexing movement of the forward end of armature spring I32 of such third stackup, as explained in connection with armature spring I32 of stackup 82'.

Second impulse terminated Upon the termination of the second impulse, the armature oi stackup 82' remains in its iully operated position, and the armature I32 in the third stackup 83' moves downwardly into advance position, as was explained in connection with the advance movement of the armature oi stackup S2.

Succeeding impulses If the impulse series under consideration contains succeeding impulses, the armatures of the concerned succeeding stackups S2 to SIO' respond thereto as described hereinbeiore for stackup S2. That is, each such armature executes its final movement responsive to the pertaining impulse, having executed its advance movement responsive to the cessation of the immediately preceding impulse. The contact pair directly associated with any such armature is not closed responsive to the advance movement of such armature; is firmly closed responsive to the final movement of such armature; and is again opened responsive to the beginning of the final movement of the next succeeding armature, if a iurther impulse is received.

In the signalling system as disclosed in Fig. 26, when line relay ll comes to rest in an energised ruptions, it maintains the winding of release relay 04 energized continuously and maintains open the circuit of series relay 88' and the circuit of impulse winding I". A moment later, series relay 05' restores and appliestgroundep'otential to one contact in each'of the stackups N and SI to Bill. When this occurs, the buzzer 88' sounds because contacts 0N have been closed, and one or another of the signal lamps 01' is lighted according to' which of the stackups SI to SIO' contains closed contacts, depending upon the number or impulses which have been transmitted to the counting device.

When key 02' is subsequently opened to clear out the system, line and release relays 83' and 04' restore successively. Series relay 05' is operated temporarily responsive to a circuit closed in the interval required for release relay 04' to restore. It thereupon open-circuits the buzzer l0 and the lighted lamp 01'. When release relay 04' restores, it open-circuits both windings of electromagnet I02, to complete the clearing-out operation.

Referring again to Figs. 21 to 25, when both windings I05 and I00 of electromagnet I0! are opened, the magnet completely deenergizes, completely demagnetizing parts III and I. All of the armatures l3! thereupon restore to their respective normal positions, along with their associated parts.

Referring again to the hold and impulse windings I05 and I06 as shown in Fig. 25, the principal reason for providing the center pole member I01 in place of providing a relatively weak (low ampere-turn) hold winding I05 and a relatively strong (high ampere-turn) impulse winding I06, either tandem related or concentrically related on a simple core structure, is that such an arrangement does not respond quickly to the receipt of an impulse or to the termination thereof because of the well-known retarding action of a magnetic core encircled by a winding whose circult is closed. That is, when two windings encircle the same core, and one of them has a closed circuit, induced current in such winding tends to retard any change in the flux passing through the portion of the core which it encircles. Such an arrangement therefore is satisfactory only for impulses of considerable length separated from each other by a considerable time interval, unless the holding winding is rendered comparatively inefilcient with a righ ratio of resistance to ampere turns, in which case the induced-current efiect is lessened. With the disclosed construction, however, with center pole I01 provided to give a comparatively low-reluctance magnetic shunt path around the portion of the magnet core encircled by the hold winding I05, the impulse winding I06 can produce rapid fiux variations in the associated end of the magnet core, which variations pass through the shunt path represented by the center pole member I01 without materially affecting the flux passing through the hold winding I05.

Windings I05 and I06 may be similar, in which case each tends to generate the same amount of flux (the same number of lines of force). There is then little or no variation in the flux passing through the portion of the core encircled by the hold winding I05 incidental either to the receipt of impulses by winding I06 or to the termination thereof. Upon the receipt of an impulse, the considerable portion of flux generated by hold magnet I05 and normally passing to frame member IN by way of the center pole member I0'I, immediately changes direction and joins the holding flux passing through the portion of the core encircled by winding I06. Then, when the impulse is terminated, the diverted ,fiux immediately resumes its normal paththrough center pole piece I01 to frame member IOI, across the air gap represented by the spacer strip I09.

Referring generally to the two embodiments illustrated in the drawings, it is to be noted that the armatures 56 and I3I are of reduced crosssectlonal area for a major portion of their length. This operates to increase the reluctance of the magnetic path through an armature, thereby considerably reducing the amount by which the flux through an armature increases as a result of air-gap reduction consequent upon the movement thereof. Preferably, the total cross-sectional area of all the armatures of the device is less than the cross-sectional area of the magnetic path at any other point. These two provisions tend to reduce the variation in eflective magnetomotive force consequent upon a number of preceding armatures having been operated.

I claim:

1. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures asso ciated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses, each armature being movable in its turn by magnetic force emanating from said pole structure to count the corresponding impulse, means normally maintaining each armature except the first out of the effective operating field of the pole structure and for normally maintaining the first armature within such field, whereby only the first armature moves to count the first impulse, and means for preliminarily advancing further armatures successively into the effective operating field of the pole structure during the counting operation in timed sequence with their respective corresponding impulses.

2. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures associated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses, each armature being movable in its turn by magnetic force emanating from said pole structure to count the corresponding impulse, means normally maintaining each armature except the first out of the effective operating field of the pole structure and for normally maintaining the first armature within such field, whereby only the first armature moves to count the first impulse, and means eilfective during each inter-impulse interval for moving the next succeeding armature from its normal position to an intermediate position within the effective operating field of the pole structure.

3. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures associated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses, each armature being movable in its turn by magnetic force emanating from said pole structure to count the corresponding impulse, means normally maintaining each armature except the first out of the effective operating field of the pole structurev and for normally maintaining the first armature within such field, whereby only the first armature moves to count the first impulse, and means responsive to the termination of the impulse counted by any armature except the last for moving the next succeed- 19 ing armature from its normal podtion to an intermediate position within the efiective operating field oi the pole structure.

4. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures associated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses. and interarmature coupling means extending between adjacent armatures, each armature being movable in its turn by magnetic force emanating from said pole structure to count the corresponding impulse, each armature after the first being controlled through the concerned interarmature coupling means, dependent upon the preceding armature having executed its said counting movement, to execute a preliminary movement responsive to the termination 01 the impulse preceding the one to which it corresponds, such preliminary move ment rendering the concerned armature operative to execute a counting movement responsive to the next succeeding impulse.

5. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures asociated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses, and interarmature coupling means extending between adjacent armatures, each armature being movable in its turn by magnetic force emanating from said pole structure to count the corresponding impulse, each armature after the first being controlled through the concerned interarmature coupling means, dependent upon the preceding armature having executed its said counting movement, to execute a preliminary movement rendering it operative to execute a counting movement responsive to the next succeeding impulse.

6. In a magnetic counting device according to claim 1, means interlinking each said further armature to the next preceding armature, said interlocking means serving to impart the said preliminary movement to an armature responsive to movement the next preceding one.

7. In a magnetic counting device according to claim 1, lost-motion means interlinking each said further armature to the next preceding armature, said interlinking means serving to impart the said preliminary movement to an armature responsive to movement of the next preceding one,

ture from responding to such force until the instant impulse is terminated, such armature thereupon yielding to the said applied force by preliminarily moving into the effective operating field or the pole structure. whereby it executes its counting movement responsive to its corresponding impulse, next succeeding.

10. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures associated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses, each armature being movable in its turn by magnetic force emanating from said pole structure to count the corresponding impulse, means normally maintaining each armature except the first out of the effective operating field of the pole structure and for normally maintaining the first armature within such field, whereby only the first armature moves to count the first impulse, each armature preceding the last having a first contact member and a second contact member associated therewith, each such armature serving pursuant to its counting movement to move its first contact member into electrical engagement with its second contact member and to impart movement to its second contact member through pressure applied by way oi its first, and means linking each said second contact member to the next succeeding armature to move such armature into the eflective operating fiel'd oi the pole structure preliminary to the counting oi the corresponding impulse, next succeeding, by such armature.

11. In a magnetic counting device according to claim 10, wherein the concerned linking means serves pursuant to the counting movement of such armature to move the second contact member oi the preceding armature out of electrical engagement with its associated first contact member.

12. In a magnetic counting device, a pole structure providing a pair of opposed pole laces, armatures disposed side by side between said pole faces, means normally maintaining all said armatures in a normal position nearer to the first pole face than to the second, means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses to said pole structure, each armature in normal position when an impulse is received being retained in such position by the greater attraction of the nearer pole the lost motion in any interlinking means serving to reduce the directly resulting motion of the driven armature of an interlinked pair by an amount substantially equal to the movement of the driving armature irom its preliminary advanced position to final position.

8. In a. magnetic counting device according to claim 1, means for stopping and holding any armature preceding the last armature of the device in a pre-final position until its corresponding impulse subsides, means thereupon efiective for continuing the movement oi such armature to final position, and interlinking means responsive to the last-named movement for imparting the said preliminary movement to the next succeeding armature,

9. In a magnetic counting device according to claim 1, means flexibly coupling each armature preceding the last armature or the device with the next succeeding armature, each armature preceding the last serving to apply force to the coupling between it and the next succeeding armature incidental to the execution of its movement to count the corresponding impulse. means for restraining the concerned succeeding armaface, means eflective between the first and second impulses for advancing the first said armature from its normal position to an advanced position nearer the second pole lace than to the first; said first armature executing a counting movement from advanced position toward the second pole face responsive to the next succeeding impulse, and interlinking means extending from each said armature preceding the last to the next succeeding one and effective between impulses to move the latter armature from its normal position to its advanced position incidental to the said counting movement of the concerned annature.

13. In a magnetic counting device, a pole structure providing pole races. a first armature operatively associated with one pole lace, other armatures disposed between pole faces, means normally maintaining each or said other armatures in a normal position wherein it is nearer to one pole race than to another, means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses to said pole structure, the first armature operating responsive to the first impulse by moving toward its associated pole face, while each said further armature is then held in normal position by the greater attraction of its nearer pole face, interlinking means extending from each armature preceding cessively responsive to said impulses respectively.

14. In a magnetic counting device, a pair of electromagnets comprising an impulse magnet and a. hold magnet, a series of armatures arranged side by side in a plane lying to one side of said magnets, each armature being mounted at the rear end so as to permit movement of the front end transversely of said plane, the rear end of each armature being magnetically associated with the rear end of said magnets, a hold bar magnetically associated with the front end of said hold magnet and underlying a portion of said armatures at a sufficient distance that the armatures are normally out of its effective field, an impulse bar offset from said hold bar and magnetically associated with the front end of said impulse magnet, said impulse bar more closely underlying said armatures but at a sufllcient distance that all armatures succeeding the first are normally out of its effective field, means for energizing the hold magnet and for intermittently energizing said impulse magnet a desired number of times, the first armature responding to the first impulse by moving into the effective field of ture, whereby said armatures are operated sucsaid hold bar whereby it is retained operated thereafter, and means including interarmature linkage means for moving further armatures successively into the effective field of the impulse bar between impulses, whereby each such further armature is moved into the efiective field 'of the hold bar responsive to the next succeeding impulse.

15. In a magnetic counting device, an electromagnet having a hold winding and an impulse winding, a series of armatures arranged side by side in a row, each armature being mounted at the rear end so as to permit movement of the front end transversely of said row, the rear end of each armature being magnetically associated with the rear end of said magnet, a combined impulse and hold bar magnetically associated with the front end of said magnet, said bar having a first portion underlying all said armatures and having a second portion more closely overlying all said armatures except the first, restoring means constantly tending to hold all armatures in normal position by urging them away from the underlying portion of said bar, said hold winding serving, when energized, to magnetize said bar weakly, but with sumcient strength to hold any armature which has been moved into close association with said underlying portion thereof, said impulse winding serving, when intermittently energized a desired number of times, to magnetize said hold bar sufllciently to attract downwardly any armature which stands nearer to the underlying portion than to the overlying portion, and to retain in normal position any armature which stands nearer the overlying portion than to the underlying portion, the first armature responding to the first impulse by moving into close association with said underlying por-- tion, whereby it is retained operated thereafter, and flexible lnterarmature linkage means effective between impulses to move further armatures successively across the midpoint between said portions, whereby each such further armature is subsequently moved into close association with the underlying portion responsive to the next succeeding impulse and is held by said hold magnetization following such impulse.

16. In a magnetic counting device, an electromagnet having a hold winding encircling one portion thereof and an impulse winding encircling another portion thereof, a series of armatures associated with said magnet, the ends of each armature being magnetically associated respectively with the ends of said magnet; said magnet serving, when magnetized weakly, to hold any armature which has been operated by failing to operate any of them; means, including interarmature coupling means, for causing said armatures to operate successively responsive respectively to successive strong energizations of said magnet, depending upon the weak magnetization being maintained between such strong magnetizations; and means providing a low-reluctance magnetic shunt path around the portion of said magnetencircled by said hold winding, whereby a strong energization of said hold winding produces but the desired weak magnetization of said magnet as a whole, said shunt path serving as a low reluctance by-pass around the hold portion of the magnet for the rapid rise of magnetic flux generated by energization of the impulse winding and a rapid decline of such iiux upon deenergization of such winding in spite of any retarding effect of a closed circuit path through the hold winding, whereby said armatures respond successively to short impulses separated by short intervals.

17. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures associated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses, each armature being movable to count its corresponding impulse responsive to the resulting impulse of magnetic force emanating from said pole structure, means normally preventing each armature except the first from moving to count any said impulse of force, and means prepared responsive to each said force impulse preceding the last, and rendered effective responsive simply to the termination thereof, for nullifying said preventing means with respect to the next succeeding armature.

18. In a magnetic counting device including a pole structure and means for transmitting a series of magnetizing impulses thereto, armatures associated with said pole structure and corresponding respectively to said impulses, each armature being movable to count its corresponding impulse responsive to the resulting impulse of magnetic force emanating from said pole structure, means normally preventing each armature except the first from moving to count any said impulse of force, and means prepared responsive to the counting movement of each armature preceding the last, and rendered effective responsive simply to the termination thereof, for nullifying said preventing means with respect to the next succeeding armature.

19. In a counting device, an electromagnet and a series of counting members associated therewith and corresponding respectively to the impulses of a series transmitted thereto, inter-member coupling means extending between adjacent counting members, means including the electromagnet for moving each' counting member in its turn by power derived from the eiectromagnet 23 24 to count its correspondin: impulse of the series, 4 REFERENCES CITED said moving means including means for control- The follow! reference a or record m ling each co'untinz member after the first through the concerned inter-member coupling means, deme of this Intent pendent upon the preceding counting member 3 v UNITED STATES PATENTS having executed its counting movement, to exe- Numb' cute a preliminary mo ement responsive to the 2 m Feb 27: termination or the impulse preceding the one to 1328184 Bum" 1917 which such member corresponds. such preiimi- 1 [970 white May 1929 nary movement rendering the concerned count- 10 o' g Apr 1931 in: member operative to execute its counting 1 5mm! 1942 movement responsive to the next succeeding ima'tziiii: 1M2 Pulse- 2.805.450 Btibitz Dec. 15, 1942 JOHN I. BELLAMY. 

